New research showed spirituality alive in china

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – According to a new research about religion in china, spirituality is alive in this country.

Pew Research has published analysis of data about religion in China, after examining various sources, such as surveys run by Chinese universities, to discern recent trends. It concludes many Chinese adults practice religion or hold religious beliefs, but only 1 in 10 formally identify with a religious group, a figure that has not risen over the last 15 years.

Although the government formally recognises five religious groups – Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism and Taoism – it closely monitors their worship, clergy and funding, and attempts to expand numbers are banned.

The research estimates that there are 17 million Muslims in China, 2 per cent of the population, whose treatment by the state has been determined as a crime against humanity.

90 per cent of the population say they have no religious affiliation, but religion is seen to play a much bigger role in China when the definition is widened to include spirituality, customs and superstitions, where multiple traditions mingle.

26 per cent burn incense to deities, 75 per cent visit graves of ancestors which is a Confucian tradition, 47 per cent believe in Fengshui, 33 per cent believe in Buddha but only 4 per cent say they are Buddhists, 18 per cent believe in Taoist deities, 10 per cent pray for good fortune and 10 per cent believe in ghosts.

Combinations of traditions are common. Of the 7 per cent who believe in the idea of God, most also believe in other deities and supernatural forces.

One third of the total population identify as atheist.

The research was funded in part by the John Templeton Foundation as part of the  Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project.